Ruth Showed Loyalty and Was "Redeemed" by Boaz
by Owen Borville
August 7, 2020
Bible
Timeline for the Book of Ruth: 1140 B.C.
The Book of Ruth describes a short, four chapter love story that involves loyalty and faith. Unlike the previous Book of Judges, where the people were disloyal to the Lord through idol worship, theft, and murder and did how they pleased, Ruth showed loyalty and faith and was therefore rewarded. Boaz also showed kindness to Ruth and "redeemed" Naomi, her mother-in-law and her family. Boaz also followed the law in marrying Ruth and the marriage redeemed the family of Elimelek, while Ruth was rewarded and blessed for her loyalty. Therefore, Boaz was a symbol of and type of Christ and Ruth became like the Bride of Christ while preserving the Jewish-Messianic ancestral line.
Naomi Lost Her Husband and Sons, Naomi and Ruth Returned to Bethlehem: Ruth 1
Naomi, of Bethlehem, Judah, was living in Moab with her husband Elimelek and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, who each had married Moabite women. Naomi's husband and two sons died, while her daughter-in-law Orpah left to return to her mother. Ruth, a gentile woman of Moab and daughter-in-law to Naomi, remained loyal to her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi after the death of Ruth's husband Mahlon. They were of Bethlehem-Judah and were living in Moab as there was a famine in Judah. Then they returned to Bethlehem.
Ruth Met Boaz in the Grain Fields: Ruth 2
Ruth worked in Boaz' fields at the request of Naomi, collecting grain and Boaz was generous to her.
Ruth and Boaz at Threshing Floor of Grain Field: Ruth 3
Naomi encouraged Ruth to continue to show kindness to Boaz.
Boaz Married Ruth, Had a Son, Genealogy of David: Ruth 4
Boaz would buy the estate from Naomi (and Elimelek, Naomi's deceased husband who owned the property) and marry Ruth, acting as a "kinsman redeemer." (Ruth 4:4) Ruth and Boaz married and had a son named Obed, who would be an ancestor of King David, an ancestor of Jesus Christ. The 'kinsman redeemer,' the next in line to purchase the property (a closer relative), did not want it and took off his sandal to make the release official. Boaz was next in line to purchase or inherit the property, and he agreed to purchase the property. Boaz married Ruth in order to "maintain the name of the dead with his property" (Ruth 4:9-10) and to fulfill the law.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:9-10.
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. Ruth 4:14-15.
Ruth is one of five women mentioned in the Bible in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ, along with Tamar (daughter-in-law of Judah and mother of Perez and Zerah), Rahab (helped Joshua and Israel), Bathsheba (bore Solomon), and Mary. By redeeming Ruth, Naomi, and her family line, the Messianic Line was preserved.
by Owen Borville
August 7, 2020
Bible
Timeline for the Book of Ruth: 1140 B.C.
The Book of Ruth describes a short, four chapter love story that involves loyalty and faith. Unlike the previous Book of Judges, where the people were disloyal to the Lord through idol worship, theft, and murder and did how they pleased, Ruth showed loyalty and faith and was therefore rewarded. Boaz also showed kindness to Ruth and "redeemed" Naomi, her mother-in-law and her family. Boaz also followed the law in marrying Ruth and the marriage redeemed the family of Elimelek, while Ruth was rewarded and blessed for her loyalty. Therefore, Boaz was a symbol of and type of Christ and Ruth became like the Bride of Christ while preserving the Jewish-Messianic ancestral line.
Naomi Lost Her Husband and Sons, Naomi and Ruth Returned to Bethlehem: Ruth 1
Naomi, of Bethlehem, Judah, was living in Moab with her husband Elimelek and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, who each had married Moabite women. Naomi's husband and two sons died, while her daughter-in-law Orpah left to return to her mother. Ruth, a gentile woman of Moab and daughter-in-law to Naomi, remained loyal to her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi after the death of Ruth's husband Mahlon. They were of Bethlehem-Judah and were living in Moab as there was a famine in Judah. Then they returned to Bethlehem.
Ruth Met Boaz in the Grain Fields: Ruth 2
Ruth worked in Boaz' fields at the request of Naomi, collecting grain and Boaz was generous to her.
Ruth and Boaz at Threshing Floor of Grain Field: Ruth 3
Naomi encouraged Ruth to continue to show kindness to Boaz.
Boaz Married Ruth, Had a Son, Genealogy of David: Ruth 4
Boaz would buy the estate from Naomi (and Elimelek, Naomi's deceased husband who owned the property) and marry Ruth, acting as a "kinsman redeemer." (Ruth 4:4) Ruth and Boaz married and had a son named Obed, who would be an ancestor of King David, an ancestor of Jesus Christ. The 'kinsman redeemer,' the next in line to purchase the property (a closer relative), did not want it and took off his sandal to make the release official. Boaz was next in line to purchase or inherit the property, and he agreed to purchase the property. Boaz married Ruth in order to "maintain the name of the dead with his property" (Ruth 4:9-10) and to fulfill the law.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:9-10.
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. Ruth 4:14-15.
Ruth is one of five women mentioned in the Bible in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ, along with Tamar (daughter-in-law of Judah and mother of Perez and Zerah), Rahab (helped Joshua and Israel), Bathsheba (bore Solomon), and Mary. By redeeming Ruth, Naomi, and her family line, the Messianic Line was preserved.